Dixon Dusts Off Championship Hopes in Toronto

Scott Dixon lept back into title contention in Canada. (Photo courtesy of the IZOD IndyCar Series)

Scott Dixon swept the IZOD IndyCar Series doubleheader Sunday by winning his second race in two days at the 1.755-mile Canadian street circuit.

By winning both races, the Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver moved to within 29 points of championship leader Helio Castroneves of Team Penske. Sunday’s win was his third straight.

Dixon, who won Race 1 of the Honda Indy Toronto by 1.7 seconds over Sebastien Bourdais following a Lap 84 restart, faced a similar situation in Race 2 and won under caution. He led all but three laps.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a dominant day,” said Dixon, who led 81 laps. “I’m just happy for the team.”

Dixon also earned his 32nd Indy car victory to overtake Dario Franchitti, Bourdais and Paul Tracy for seventh on the all-time list. He’s won three races since Franchitti won his last in the 2012 Indianapolis 500. Bourdais’ last Indy car victory was Nov. 11, 2007, in Mexico City. Tracy, who is retired from Indy car racing, last won on June 24, 2007, at Cleveland.

Al Unser Jr. is next up with 34 victories (nine on ovals, 25 of road/street courses).

Of Dixon’s total, 17 have been on ovals and 15 on road/street courses. Dixon made his first Indy car start at Monterrey, Mexico, on March 11, 2001, and picked up his maiden victory at Nazareth less than two months later in a PacWest Racing car. He’s been with Target Chip Ganassi Racing since ’03.

“If we can get more victories, we’re obviously doing something right,” Dixon said. “I credit a lot of that to the team.”

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TORONTO – Results Sunday of the Honda Indy Toronto Race 2 IZOD IndyCar Series event on the 1.755 mile Streets of Toronto, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):